Clip for elliptically-shaped containers

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a device for retaining a plurality of elliptically-shaped containers. The device comprises a frame having a length dimension with opposite sides and a plurality of arms extending from opposite sides of the frame. The frame length, a flexible arm and a fixed arm arcuately form at least one container-retaining cavity adapted to receive and retain an elliptically-shaped container. The cavity has at least one length dimension that is slightly smaller than a major axis diameter of the elliptically-shaped container when the container is not retained within the cavity.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(1) Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a packaging device forelliptically-shaped containers.

(2) Description of the Related Art

Commercially available containers, such as infant feeding bottles, aretypically packaged in groups. In order to do so, the containers areoften packaged in paperboard cartons or shrink-wrapped trays. This typeof packaging is designed to protect the containers from being separatedfrom one another or being damaged during shipment, handling, andstorage. Upon purchase of the packaged containers, the consumer mustopen the packaging and remove a container to further use it.Unfortunately, once the paperboard carton or shrink wrapped tray isopened, the carton or tray can no longer securely retain the remainingcontainers. The containers are permitted to move freely inside thepackaging, causing them to become susceptible to being damaged ormishandled.

Plastic clip systems designed to retain such containers have beendeveloped in U.S. Pat. No. 5,191,975 to Pezzoli, et al. and U.S. Pat.No. 3,028,189 to Gialanella. In these systems, the clip device comprisesan longitudinal central section and a plurality of opposed grippingmembers attached to the longitudinal central section. Each pair ofgripping members forms an opening for receiving and retaining acylindrical container, such as a baby bottle.

One disadvantage to the clip systems of Pezzoli and Gialanella is thatthey require two flexible members to retain each container. Because twoflexible gripping members are required to retain each container, bothgripping members must work against each other to flexibly adjust inorder to receive a container or allow a container to be removed. Thismakes it physically difficult to insert or remove a container from thegripping members without using excessive force, which could ultimatelydamage the container or clip system.

Another disadvantage to the Pezzoli and Gialanella clip systems is thatthey are adapted to receive and retain only cylindrical containers. Acontainer or bottle that has any other body configuration would not fitsecurely into the gripping members of the Pezzoli or Gialanellainvention.

Non-cylindrical containers are becoming commercially popular. Forexample, some manufacturers of sports drinks are producing bottles withoval or elliptical body shapes in order to provide a bottle that is easyto grip and drink from while participating in a sports activity. Theoval or elliptical shape fits into the hand more comfortably than acylindrical drink bottle would.

Similarly, infant feeding bottles having an elliptical bodyconfiguration provide a bottle that is easier for both the infant andthe caregiver to grasp. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,786,344 toKipperman relates to a baby bottle having an elliptically-shaped body,which ensures that the bottle is sufficiently narrow to enable acaregiver to comfortably hold the bottle while feeding the infant. Forpremature infants, the elliptical configuration of the bottle isespecially important, as it is often necessary to encourage the infantto feed by stimulating its cheek during feedings. In one embodiment ofthe Kipperman elliptically-shaped bottle, the caregiver can hold thebottle between her middle and forefinger, allowing her to stimulate thebaby's cheek with her thumb during the feeding. Bottles having thisshape could not be contained within either the Pezzoli or Gialanellaclip.

Thus, it would be useful to provide a packaging device forelliptically-shaped containers that allows the containers to remainsecure after one container is removed from the packaging and retains thecontainers through the use of one fixed arm and one flexible arm.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Briefly, therefore, the present invention is directed to a novelpackaging clip for retaining a plurality of elliptically-shapedcontainers. The packaging clip comprises a frame having a lengthdimension with opposite sides and a plurality of arms extending fromopposite sides of the frame. The frame length, a flexible arm and afixed arm arcuately form an open cavity which is adapted to receive andretain an elliptically-shaped container. The cavity has at least onelength dimension that is slightly smaller than a major axis diameter ofthe elliptically-shaped container.

The present invention is also directed to a novel packaging assembly forretaining a plurality of elliptically-shaped containers. The packagingassembly comprises a frame having a length dimension with opposite sidesand a plurality of arms extending from opposite sides of the frame. Theframe length, a flexible arm and a fixed arm arcuately form an opencavity which is adapted to receive and retain an elliptically-shapedcontainer. The cavity has at least one length dimension that is slightlysmaller than a major axis diameter of the elliptically-shaped container.A plurality of elliptically-shaped containers are retained within saidcavities.

The present invention is also directed to a novel packaging clip forretaining a plurality of elliptically-shaped containers. The packagingclip has a frame having a length dimension, the frame comprising aplurality of straight arms connected at substantially equal angles toform the length dimension and open cavities along the length dimension,wherein adjacent cavities open to opposite sides of the lengthdimension. The packaging clip also has two fingers located substantiallyequidistant from the vertex of each angle, adapted to receive and retainthe elliptically-shaped containers within the open cavity.

The present invention is also directed to such a novel packaging cliphaving retained elliptically-shaped containers.

It is an object of the invention to provide a device that retains aplurality of elliptically-shaped containers. It is also an object of theinvention to provide a device that stabilizes containers duringshipment, displays the containers while in inventory, distributes thecontainers easily and permits the re-storage of the containers.

Among the several advantages found to be achieved by the presentinvention is that the packaging device is adapted to receiveelliptically-shaped containers and allows the containers to remainsecure after one container is removed from the packaging. Additionally,the containers can be firmly reattached to the packaging device withease by inserting the container into the cavity. This eliminates thepossibility of dropping or mishandling due to unsecured containers. Thepresent invention can be used to package containers for commercialdistribution purposes, to collect empty containers, or re-used withother elliptically-shaped containers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a more complete understanding of the present invention, reference isnow made to the following descriptions taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a top view of a packaging clip of the present invention inwhich one container is retained by the clip.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a packaging assembly of the presentinvention in which a plurality of containers are retained by the clip.

FIG. 2 a is a top view of an alternate embodiment of a packaging clip ofthe present invention.

FIG. 3 is a top view of an alternate embodiment of a packaging clip ofthe present invention in which one container is retained by the clip.

FIG. 4 is a top view of an alternate embodiment of a packaging clip ofthe present invention.

Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding partsthroughout the several views of the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Reference now will be made in detail to the embodiments of theinvention, one or more examples of which are set forth below. Eachexample is provided by way of explanation of the invention, not alimitation of the invention. In fact, it will be apparent to thoseskilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be madein the present invention without departing from the scope or spirit ofthe invention. For instance, features illustrated or described as partof one embodiment, can be used on another embodiment to yield a stillfurther embodiment.

Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers suchmodifications and variations as come within the scope of the appendedclaims and their equivalents. Other objects, features and aspects of thepresent invention are disclosed in or are obvious from the followingdetailed description. It is to be understood by one of ordinary skill inthe art that the present discussion is a description of exemplaryembodiments only, and is not intended as limiting the broader aspects ofthe present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, the present invention is directed to a novelpackaging clip 10 for retaining a plurality of elliptically-shapedcontainers 40. The clip 10 has a frame 20 with a length dimension andopposite sides. A plurality of arms 21 and 22 extend from opposite sidesof the frame 20. The frame length 20, flexible arms 21 and fixed arms 22arcuately form opposing container-retaining cavities 30 that are adaptedto receive and retain elliptically-shaped containers 40. In someembodiments, the cavities 30 may be present on only one side of theframe length (shown in FIG. 1 a). In this embodiment, flexible arms 21and fixed arms 22 would be disposed on one side of the clip length. Theopposite side of the clip length would be, therefore, straight or haveanother design without cavities.

The cavity 30 has at least one length dimension that is slightly smallerthan a major axis diameter of an elliptically-shaped container 40. Inone embodiment of the invention, the cavity 30 has multiple lengthdimensions that are slightly smaller than the corresponding major axisdiameter of the elliptically-shaped container 40 when a container is notbeing retained within the cavity 30. The length dimensions D1, D2 and D3of the cavity 30 are shown in FIG. 1. The major axis diameters D4, D5and D6 of the elliptically-shaped container 40 are also shown. In thisembodiment, length dimensions D1, D2 and D3 are slightly smaller thanthe corresponding diameter dimensions D4, D5 and D6 of theelliptically-shaped container 40.

The elliptically-shaped container 40 can be retained by the packagingclip 10 by inserting the container 40 into the cavity 30 so that a minoraxis diameter D7 is first positioned parallel to the longitudinal axis23 of the frame 20. The container 40 should then be turned approximately90°. In a particular embodiment, the container 40 is turned 90° in adirection toward the flexible arm 21. The flexible arm 21 flexiblyadjusts to receive the container 40 in cavity 30. Once the container hasbeen inserted into the cavity 30 and turned 90°, the flexible arm 21returns to its original position, securely retaining the container.

The minor diameter D7 of the container 40 is then perpendicular to thelongitudinal axis 23 of the frame 20 and the container is locked intoposition. The major axis diameter D5 of the container 40 is parallel toa length diameter D2 of the cavity 30 and will be parallel to thelongitudinal axis 23 of the frame 20.

A container can be released from the packaging clip 10 by turning thecontainer 40 approximately 90°. In a particular embodiment, thecontainer 40 is turned 90° is the opposite direction, against theflexible arm 21. Again, the flexible arm 21 flexibly adjusts to releasethe container 40. The flexible arm 21 then returns to its originalposition. The container 40 can then be easily removed from the cavity30.

In certain embodiments of the invention, the packaging clip 10 has aretention barb 24 on the terminal end of each flexible arm 21. Theretention barb 24 enhances the ability of the packaging clip 10 toretain the containers 40. Although the retention barbs 24 are shaped ina particular manner in the drawings, the retention barbs 24 of theinvention may encompass various shapes. The retention barbs 24 can be ofany shape that enhances the ability of the clip 10 to retain thecontainers.

In an embodiment, the frame length 20 is substantially flat and hassufficient rigidity to support at least six containers 40 without beingdistorted. In a particular embodiment, the packaging clip of the presentinvention has a handle 25 fixedly attached to the frame length (shown inFIG. 2). The handle 25 can be present on any of the embodiments of theinvention.

FIG. 2 illustrates a packaging assembly 50 of the present invention. Thepackaging assembly 50 is designed to retain a plurality ofelliptically-shaped containers 40. The packaging assembly 50 comprises apackaging clip 10 as described above and a plurality ofelliptically-shaped containers 40 retained within the cavities of theclip 10.

Each of the elliptically-shaped containers 40 has an elliptically-shapedcylindrical body portion 41. With one particular container, acircular-shaped cylindrical upper body portion 42 and a circular-shapedcylindrical lower body portion 43 are also included. The circular-shapedupper body portion 42 and the lower body portion 43 have a diameter thatis greater than the major diameter of the elliptically-shaped bodyportion 41. This prevents the elliptically-shaped body portion 41 fromslipping out of the packaging clip 10. The containers 40 also comprise acylindrical top portion 44 adapted to removably receive a closure.

If desired, a packaging assembly according to the invention could beenclosed in plastic wrap. Similarly, the packaging assembly could havethe bottoms of the containers resting in a tray and the entire assemblycould be enclosed in plastic wrap.

An alternate embodiment of the present invention employing this conceptis shown in FIG. 3. In this embodiment, the packaging clip 100 has aframe 120 having a length dimension. The frame 120 comprises a pluralityof straight arms 121 connected at substantially equal angles 122 to formthe length dimension. Open cavities 130 are present along the lengthdimension 120, wherein adjacent cavities 130 open to opposite sides ofthe length dimension 120. The packaging clip 100 also has two fingers123 located substantially equidistant from the vertex of each angle 122,adapted to receive and retain elliptically-shaped containers within theopen cavity 130. In this embodiment, the substantially equal angles 122can be right, obtuse or acute, depending on the size of the containersto be held by the clip.

Also shown in FIG. 3 is an elliptically-shaped bottle 140, positioned inone of the cavities 130. The elliptically-shaped bottle 140 has a minordiameter D8 and a major diameter D9. In a particular embodiment, thereis enough space between the two fingers 123 that the minor diameter D8of the bottle 140 can fit between the fingers 123 but the major diameterD9 cannot fit between the fingers 123.

In this embodiment, similar to the other embodiment described above, theelliptically-shaped container 140 can be received and retained by thepackaging clip 100 by inserting the minor diameter D8 of the bottle 140between the two fingers 123. Once the bottle 140 has moved into thecavity 103 and beyond the fingers 123, the bottle 140 is rotatedapproximately 900 in either direction. By rotating the bottle 140, themajor diameter D7 is gripped securely by the arms 121 and fingers 123.To remove the bottle 140 from the packaging clip 100, the bottle 140 isagain rotated 900 in either direction. This allows the bottle 140 to beremoved from the packaging clip 100 by sliding the minor diameter D8 ofthe bottle 140 through the opening between the fingers 123.

FIG. 4 illustrates an additional embodiment of the invention. In thisembodiment, the packaging clip 200 comprises a length dimension 220having opposite sides. A plurality of arms 221 extend outwardly fromopposite sides of the frame 220. Each arm 221 extends substantiallyperpendicular to the frame length 220. Between each arm, a cavity 230 isformed. The arms 221 are adapted so that an elliptically-shaped bottlecan be inserted into the cavity 230. The interior arms 222 are flexibleand have two gripping surfaces 223 and 224, such that a bottle can beretained on each side of interior arm 222. The distances between thearms are designed such that they are smaller than a dimension of theelliptically-shaped container when the container is not retained withina cavity. In one embodiment, four arms 221 are present on each side ofthe frame 220.

Like the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-2, the additional embodimentsmay have elliptical container-receiving cavities disposed on only oneside of the frame length. Even the embodiment shown in FIG. 3 could haveopposite side cavities or structures that would not be able to retainelliptically-shaped containers of the same size being retained on theopposite side.

In any of the embodiments, the packaging clip of the present inventionmay molded of a suitable plastic material, which may be blow molded, byextrusion or injection, so that it is a unitary member of relativelyuniform wall thickness. Any plastic material known in the art can beused to form the packaging clip. A suitable plastic for forming thepackaging clip includes, but is not limited to, polystyrene,polystyrene-acrylonitile, acrylonitile-butadiene-styrene,styrene-maleicanhydride, polycarbonate, polyethylene terephthalate,polyvinylcyclohexane, and blends thereof.

The present invention provides many advantages over packaging clips ofthe prior art. By requiring only a flexible arm and a fixed arm toretain a container, the present invention makes the insertion andremoval of containers from the clip very easy. This may allow the userto remove or replace a bottle with only one hand.

The packaging clip of the present invention allows the remainingcontainers to remain secure after one container is removed from theclip. The packaging clip can be easily reused. It is durable andrelatively inexpensive to produce. It stabilizes the containers duringshipment and displays the containers while in inventory. Furthermore, itallows the assembly to be shrink-wrapped in plastic, placed in acardboard container, or mounted on a carrier tray.

Although preferred embodiments of the invention have been describedusing specific terms, devices, and methods, such description is forillustrative purposes only. The words used are words of descriptionrather than of limitation. It is to be understood that changes andvariations may be made by those of ordinary skill in the art withoutdeparting from the spirit or the scope of the present invention, whichis set forth in the following claims. In addition, it should beunderstood that aspects of the various embodiments may be interchangedboth in whole or in part. For example, while methods for the productionof a sterile liquid nutritional supplement made according to thosemethods have been exemplified, other uses are contemplated. Therefore,the spirit and scope of the appended claims should not be limited to thedescription of the preferred versions contained therein.

1. A clip for retaining a plurality of elliptically-shaped containers,the clip comprising a frame having a length dimension with oppositesides and a plurality of arms extending from opposite sides of theframe, wherein: a. the frame length, a flexible arm and a fixed armarcuately form at least one open container-retaining cavity adapted toreceive and retain an elliptically-shaped container; and b. the cavityhas at least one length dimension that is slightly smaller than a majoraxis diameter of the elliptically-shaped container when the container isnot retained within the cavity.
 2. The clip according to claim 1,wherein the cavity has multiple length dimensions that are slightlysmaller than a corresponding major axis diameter of theelliptically-shaped container.
 3. The clip according to claim 1, whereinthe flexible arm flexibly adjusts to receive the elliptically-shapedcontainer.
 4. The clip according to claim 1, wherein a retention barb islocated at the terminal end of each flexible arm.
 5. The clip accordingto claim 1, wherein the device is formed from a plastic material.
 6. Theclip according to claim 1, comprising multiple cavities.
 7. The clipaccording to claim 1 comprising at least six cavities.
 8. The clipaccording to claim 7, wherein at least three container-retainingcavities are located on each side of the length dimension of the frame.9. The clip according to claim 1, further comprising a handle fixedlyattached to the frame for carrying said clip.
 10. A packaging assemblyfor retaining a plurality of elliptically-shaped containers, saidpackaging assembly comprising: a. a packaging clip comprising a framehaving a length dimension with opposite sides and a plurality of armsextending from opposite sides of the frame, wherein: i. the framelength, a flexible arm and a fixed arm arcuately form at least one opencontainer-retaining cavity adapted to receive and retain anelliptically-shaped container; ii. the cavity has at least one lengthdimension that is slightly smaller than a major axis diameter of theelliptically-shaped container when the container is not retained withinthe cavity; and b. a plurality of elliptically-shaped containers,wherein the containers are retained within said container-retainingcavities.
 11. The packaging assembly according to claim 10, wherein theelliptically-shaped container is retained by the packaging clip byinserting the container into the cavity so that the minor axis diameteris positioned parallel to the longitudinal axis of the frame and turningthe container approximately 90°.
 12. The packaging assembly according toclaim 10, wherein the packaging assembly is shrink-wrapped.
 13. Thepackaging assembly according to claim 10, wherein the packaging assemblyis packaged in a cardboard container.
 14. The packaging assemblyaccording to claim 10, wherein the packaging assembly is mounted on atray.
 15. A clip for retaining a plurality of elliptically-shapedcontainers, said packaging clip comprising: a. a frame having a lengthdimension, said frame comprising a plurality of straight arms connectedat substantially equal angles to form the length dimension and at leastone open cavity along the length dimension, wherein adjacent cavitiesopen to opposite sides of the length dimension; and b. two fingerslocated substantially equidistant from the vertex of each angle, adaptedto receive and retain the elliptically-shaped containers within the opencavity.
 16. The clip according to claim 15, wherein the angles areright.
 17. The clip according to claim 15, wherein the angles are acute.18. The clip according to claim 15, wherein the angles are obtuse.
 19. Apackaging assembly for retaining a plurality of elliptically-shapedcontainers, said packaging assembly comprising a packaging clipaccording to claim 15 and a plurality of elliptically-shaped containersretained within said cavities.